‘I went on a staycation to the New Forest

The sight of a pony ambling nonchalantly along Brockenhurst’s picturesque high street on its way for a quick drink at the watersplash ford is a memory that never leaves you. There are many areas of the New Forest where animals are free to roam, including cattle, sheep, ponies and, for a few months in autumn when they’re rooting for acorns, pigs. Indeed, not so long ago, there were reports of a donkey popping into the local Tesco (perhaps hoping for a nibble on the organic carrots).

Visitors flock to the UK’s smallest national park for its rolling heathland, shady woods, beautiful coastline and more than 100 miles of child-friendly cycle routes. For a long weekend with the family, it really is the perfect destination – as OK! found out on a recent trip.

A trip to the New Forest is fun for all of the family
(Image: Getty)

Where to stay

We rented the gorgeous two-bedroom Rose Cottage in Lyndhurst, the “capital” of the New Forest since the days of William the Conqueror. The cottage is a stone’s throw from open woods and heath, and the village amenities, including boujee cafés and the New Forest Heritage Centre, which should be the first port of call for information and interactive fun.

The cosy living room and well-stocked kitchen were ideal for our family of three, while the garden was secure enough for our puppy to run around in. The owner also left a welcome pack with advice on where to eat and what to visit.

The Rose Cottage in Lyndhurst was perfect for a family of three
(Image: Phil Jackson)

The great outdoors

We were spoilt for choice with options for days out. There’s the stunning Exbury Gardens, the National Motor Museum in the pretty village of Beaulieu, a maritime museum at Buckler’s Hard and Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary.

But with a dog in tow, we headed for Lepe Beach, an unspoilt sandy stretch of coastline bordering Lepe Country Park in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Pooches are welcome for a paddle from October to March, and there’s a café in the car park that serves delicious cakes and coffee.

There’s plenty of outdoor activities to complete during a trip to the New Forest including a trip to Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary
(Image: Getty)

Tudor history

Another must-see is Hurst Castle, just off the coast of Lymington. The huge artillery fortress was built by Henry VIII, used during the English Civil War 100 years later, then pressed into service again in the First and Second World Wars as part of a network of defences around the Solent. It’s relatively untouched so you really can get a sense of what life was like in Tudor times.

We travelled by local ferry from Keyhaven, but you can also reach the castle by taking the breathtaking walk along a one-and-a-half mile pebble spit from Milford-on-Sea. The castle holds lots of fun events, especially during school holidays, so check the website before you travel.

My three-year-old son loved taking part, with a little help from mum and dad, in a treasure hunt that led us through the rooms and long corridors. There were also arts and crafts available, and members of staff were dressed in mediaeval costumes – really great fun.

Hurst Castle is a must-see if visiting the New Forest
(Image: English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Eating out

When travelling with a young child, it’s often tricky to find places that get a thumbs up from both him and us. After our visit to Hurst Castle, we got the ferry back to Keyhaven and lunched at The Gun Inn, a gorgeous little pub that dates from the 1700s. It offers classic pub grub, with a decent kids’ menu, and dogs are welcome, too. Warming up by one of the cosy fires after a windswept ride on the ferry was very welcome indeed.

Lyndhurst has lots of great places to eat and we found a cute little Italian, Enzee, where my son tucked into a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese.

Once he was in bed that evening, we cooked up a spaghetti carbonara for the two of us, using fresh ingredients from the local farm shop in Setley Ridge.

How to book

For accommodation visit newforestcottages.co.uk; for The Gun Inn see theguninn.co.uk; details on the Farm Shop are at setleyridgefarmshop.co.uk; to visit the castle and for information on events there it’s hurstcastle.co.uk

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